Cotton-picker.



No. 886,236. PATENTED APR. 28, 1908.

I. A. MURGHISON. COTTON PIOKER.

APPLIO'ATION I'ILED'JUNE 19,1907.

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UNiTEn STATES PATENT oEEioE.

ISAAC A. MURGHISON, OF MANCHESTER, NORTH CAROLINA.

COTTON-PICKER.

Application filed June 19, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAo A. MURGHISON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Manchester, in the county of Cumberland and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and Improved Cotton-Picker, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to cotton pickers, my more particular object being to produce a small picker suitable to be carried in one hand and in which the picking mechanism and movable parts for operating the same are of comparatively simple construction.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the device complete, a portion of the frame and sliding bar being broken away; and Fig. 2 is an end view of the device, showing the arrangement of the revoluble cone and barbs mounted ihelreupon for removing the cotton from the A four-sided frame 3 is provided with rounded corners 4 and with twin slots 5 mating each other. Mounted within each slot 5 is a spiral spring 6. A sliding bar 7 extends directly across the frame and is provided at its ends with tongues 8 which extend into the slots 5. The spiral springs 6 are con nected with the frame by means of screws 9 and with the tongues 8 by screws 10. A bearing sleeve 11 extends centrally through the sliding bar 7 and is provided with a flange 12 secured thereto by screws 13. This sleeve is therefore rigid relatively to the sliding bar 7. The bearing sleeve 11 is provided internally with a spiral thread 14. Bearing sleeves 15, 16 extend through opposite portions of the frame 3. The bearing sleeve 16 is provided with a flange 17 secured in position by screws 18. Extending through all of the bearing sleeves is a revoluble spindle 19 provided with a groove 20 winding around it in the form of a spiral. The thread 14 of the bearing sleeve 11 fits into this groove.

A collar 21 encircles the spindle 19 and is secured rigidly thereupon by aid of set screw 22. The end of the bearing sleeve 15 immediately adjacent this collar is sunken slightly for the pur ose of receiving the same, as indicated in Fig. 1. Another collar 23 encircles Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 28, 1908.

Serial No. 379,745.

the spindle 19, being disposed outside of the frame 3 and secured to the spindle by aid of a set screw 24. The collars 21, 23 prevent movement of the spindle in the general direction of its axis relative to the frame.

A cone 26, made preferably of wood, cork or similar material, is provided with a number of metallic barbs 27 each consisting of a small spike bent upon itself so as to form substantially right angles. The cone is further provided centrally at its end with two barbs 28 extending substantially in o posite direc tions. A plate 29, having a col ar 30 integral therewith, is secured to the cone by screws 31 and to the spindle 19 by a set screw 32.

The operation of my device is as follows: The operator grasps the frame, having the thumb and alm of his hand upon opposite sides thereof, his fingers being upon opposite portions of the cross bar and upono posite sides of the removable spindle. Whi e holding the device in this position the operator can readily present the cone and portions carried by it to the seed cotton, which, as is well known, depends from the bolls in which it grows. The operator next bends his fingers, thus forcing the slide 7 away from the cone, and this causesthe cone to turn, and as it rotates the barbs 27, 28 entwine the cotton so that it is readily severed from the bolls by merely pulling the frame away. The 0 erator next relaxes the pressure upon the s ide 7 and the retractile action of the springs thus restores the sliding bar 7 to its normal position, indicated in Fig. 1. This retractile movement causes the spindle 19 to rotate in a direction contrary to that used in entwining the cotton, and in so doing the cotton is released.

It is much easier for an operator to work the slide 7 than it is,to remove the cotton from the bolls With his fingers alone.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a frame, a bar slidably mounted therein and rovided with a bearing sleeve having a spirafthread disposed internally of the same, a s indie journaled Within said frame and provi ed with a groove mating said thread so that movements of said sliding bar cause said spindle to turn, and mechanism mounted upon said spindle for the purpose of engaging cotton to be picked.

2. The combination of a frame provided With slots, a bar movably connected With said frame and provided with portions fitting slida-bly into said slots, springs mounted Within said slots and engaging said portions of said bar extending thereinto, a spindle mounted Within said frame and provided With a spiral groove, a bearing sleeve mounted upon said bar, said bearing sleeve being provided With a thread extending into said groove of said spindle for the purpose of turning the latter, and a revoluble member mounted upon said spindle and provided With metallic spikes for engaging cotton to be picked.

3. In a cotton picker, the combination of a frame, a spindle journaled therein and adapted to rotate, means for preventing said spindle from moving endWise in relation to said frame, a bar movably connected. With said frame and provided With means for turning said spindle, and mechanism mounted upon said spindle for the purpose of engaging the cotton to be picked.

4. In a cotton picker, the combination of a frame, a sliding bar mounted thereupon, a

revoluble member journaled in said frame and provided With barbs fo'r entwining eotton, said sliding bar being provided With means for turning said revoluble member, and mechanism for preventing travel of said revoluble member in the general direction of its axis of rotation relatively to said frame.

5. The combination of a frame, a cone revoluble in relation thereto, means for preventing travel of said cone relatively to said frame in the general direction of the'axis of revolution of said cone, and means controllable by hand for turning said cone relatively to said frame.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ISAAC A. MURCI-IISON.

WVitnesses J. SPRUNT NEWTON, JNo. G. SHAW. 

